Virat Kohli is not going to get a Hundred Down Under: Australian quick

By Yash Mittal

ImageSource@Rediff

What’s the story

Aussie tear-away quick Pat Cummins has made a bold prediction ahead of the impending Border-Gavaskar Trophy- that the Indian captain Virat Kohli will fail to score a single century Down Under later this year.

Speaking at a Channel 7 function in Sydney, Cummins emulated former Australian legend Glenn McGrath, who was also in attendance and will be one of the commentators for the new broadcasters Channel 7 along with Ponting, Damien Fleming, Michael Slater and Adam Gilchrist.

“My brave, bold prediction; I’d say I think Virat Kohli is not going to get a hundred and we’re going to knock them off over here,” Cummins said.

Virat Kohli will resume his rivalry with the Aussies when India head Down Under for a 4-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy which will be followed by three ODIs and three IT20s. The Indian superstar has had a great time in his past two visits to the Kangaroo nation. While he scored his maiden ton at the Adelaide Oval in 2012, he backed it up with a watershed 2014 tour where he amassed 694 runs in eight innings with twin tons in Adelaide and scores of 169 and 147 at MCG and SCG respectively.

But he had a torrid time in Australia’s visit to India last year where he could not amass 46 runs in three-Tests, the last of his dismissal coming against Pat Cummins in the first innings of the Ranchi Test.

McGrath Predicts–again

Over the years, Australian players have made it a habit of making bold predictions ahead of a crucial series. McGrath was at it again as he declared a 4-0 series win to Australia and also called on the home team to target Kohli and see how he and his players react under pressure.

“The Windies of the late 70s, early 80s were an incredible team and they used to target the captain of the opposition team and get on top of him and have a big impact. I tried to bring that in by targeting players when I played. If you get on top of them, the No.1 player and their captain, it makes the job so much easier.

“If they can get on top of Kohli I think it can have a big effect on the game,” said McGrath.

Our Take

While the Australians have started making bold predictions ahead of the series, it has to be noted that they’ll be without their best Test batsmen in Warner and Smith. If Kohli and co can negate the fearsome trio of Starc, Cumins, and Hazlewood, it will provide India, their best chance to win a Test series Down Under after 11 unsuccessful attempts which date back to first ever tour in 1947.

India will resume their 12th tour of Australia on December 06, with the first of the four Tests starting at the Adelaide Oval.